Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 05 October 2016 > Webpicks

Tim Burton’s latest film, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, is based on the best selling American novel by Ransom Riggs. The overriding message of the story is one that fits well into any classroom full of teenagers: be different, don’t feel you have to conform to artificial norms, and respect others for their differences. … Continue reading “Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Webpicks”

Christopher Columbus, Myth or Hero?

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 23 September 2016 > Webpicks

Columbus Day in October is a good time for class work exploring this controversial figure, and how his legacy is perceived in the U.S.A. and in Spanish-speaking countries. Christopher Columbus is honoured with a national holiday in the U.S.A., on the second Monday in October. For collège, this is a relatively simple description of Columbus … Continue reading “Christopher Columbus, Myth or Hero?”

Refugee Speech

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 September 2016 > Ready to Use

This speech by UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie on World Refugee Day in June 2016 is a good introduction to the unprecedentedly large numbers of refugees in the world today, and the international summits and actions trying to come up with solutions. At 1’19, it works for practising listening comprehension for the Bac exam, on … Continue reading “Refugee Speech”

‘What They Took With Them’: Refugee Poem

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 September 2016 > Webpicks

This thought-provoking spoken-word poem about the experiences of refugees is a good way to have pupils connect with what can seem a nebulous, theoretical problem. The simple listing of the most important items refugees took with them on their flight should allow pupils to exercise their empathy and imagine themselves in refugees’ shoes. Actor Cate … Continue reading “‘What They Took With Them’: Refugee Poem”

Quentin Blake Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 19 September 2016 > Webpicks

Quentin Blake illustrated all of Roald Dahl’s children’s books. And now he has illustrated a long-lost story by Beatrix Potter. Here are a couple of ways to enrich your class with Quentin Blake’s work. This trailer for The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots features Quentin Blake’s illustrations and Dame Helen Mirren reading the opening passage of the … Continue reading “Quentin Blake Webpicks”

Election Time

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 15 September 2016 > Ready to Use

These A2+ and B1-level articles and boxes will enable your pupils to have an overview of the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. It can be an opportunity to compare with elections in other countries (their own country as well as how it is organised in the United Kingdom for example). There are worksheets for A2+ and … Continue reading “Election Time”

Native American Film in Class

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 08 September 2016 > Webpicks

Songs My Brothers Taught Me takes place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (South Dakota). It shows the life of  Lakota Indians today. The film’s website has concise information about the Lakota people who acted in the film, and a director’s statement. The trailer provides plenty of images which can challenge pupils’ images of Native … Continue reading “Native American Film in Class”

Brooklyn Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 08 September 2016 > Webpicks

Brooklyn is a beautiful coming-of-age story about a young Irish woman emigrating to the U.S.A. Colm Tóibín’s 1989 novel has now been adapted as a film. It is perfect for working on themes of immigration, family duty and love. For more about the film, and the trailer, see our article. The film’s website has several … Continue reading “Brooklyn Webpicks”

Paralympics: Yes We Can

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 08 September 2016 > Webpicks

Britain’s commercial Channel 4 TV company revolutionised the televising of disability sports for the 2012 Games in London. It has continued its commitment to disability sport, proudly proclaiming on all its communication that it is the “Paralympic Broadcaster”. This from the channel that brought us Big Brother and Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. For the 2016 … Continue reading “Paralympics: Yes We Can”